Liquid-sealed relief valve



Oct. 14, 1930. J. E. MOORE LIQUID SEALED RELIEF VALVE Filed May 14, 19 28 a- 7 1 M m Patented Oct. 14, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN E. MOORE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD OIL COMPANY, OF

WHITING, INDIANA,

A CORPORATION OF INDIANA LIQUID-SEALED RELIEF VALVE Application filed May 14, 1928.

This inventionrelates to liquid sealed relief valves and will be readily understood from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a preferred form of relief valve; and

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on a plane passing through the center of the device.

Referring to the drawing, 10 is a vertical outlet connected by conduit 11 to the vapor space of a storage system for hydrocarbon oils. The outlet 10 is surrounded by walls 12 and 13, standing in spaced relation thereto, so as to constitute therearound a receptacle 14 for a suitable sealing liquid, such as water, seal oil, or the like. The Walls 12 preferably flare outwardly in the upward direction, as shown in the drawing.

Above the outlet 10 is pivotally mounted an inverted cup 15 having sides 16 which depend downwardly into sealing liquid maintained in the receptacle 14. The cup 15 is provided with trunnions 17 which are en gaged by suitable brackets mounted on the sides 13 of the receptacle 14. The trunnions 17 are laterally displaced from the center of pressure of the inverted cup 15, and a suitable weight 18 is provided on the shorter side of the cup so that it is normally in balanced condition. The sides 16 of the cup 15 may be cut away, as shown at25, so that the opening of theseal between said sides and the sealing liquid in receptacle 14 may be gradual.

The inverted cup 15'is provided with suitable weights for the purpose of preventing rotation of the cup on its axis until it is subjected to a certain excess of pressure on one side or the other, such excess pressure being predetermined to ensure the safety of the storage system. Such weights may suitably be constituted by metal strips 19 carried on the upper surface of the inverted cup 15 and provided with depending portions 20, which extend into the sealing liquid in receptacle 14 and are provided at their lower ends with pressure plates 21 which offer resistance to rapid movement through said liquid.

Serial No. 277,779.

application, Serial No. 229,990, now Patent 1,747,810, filed October 31, 1927, by Harold V. Atwell, and is not claimed broadly here- In.

From the upper face of the inverted cup 15 depends an open conduit 23. The axis of this conduit is preferably located in the vertical plane of the trunnions 17. The lower end of the conduit 23 extends into a trough 24 supported in suitable manner from the walls of the outlet 10. The trough 24 is preferably a segment of a cylinder, the axis of which coincides with that of the trunnions 17. The lower end of the conduit 23 is so out that it extends into proximity to the curved wall of the trough 24. The trough 24 may contain mercury or other suitable sealing liquid.

A suitable cover 26, which permits free access to the atmosphere, is applied over the receptacle 14.

The operation is as follows Whenthe pressure in'the vapor system attains the predetermined excess pressure, such excess pressure acting upon the longer side of the inverted cup 15 causes the same to rotate in the clockwise direction, with reference to the drawing, such excess pressure being sufiicient to enable the cup to raise the weight system 19, 20 on the left hand side of the cup. During such movement, the plate 21 passing through the said sealing liquid, prevents undue oscillation. The weight system 19, 20 on the right hand side of the cup remains stationary, the plate 21 thereof bearing upon the bottom of the liquid sealed chamber around the outlet 10. When the cup 15 rotates in the manner described, the conduit 23 emerges gradually from the sealing liquid in trough 24 and permits the escape of vapor through said conduit until the excessive pressure within the system is relieved, whereupon the cup 15 returns to normal position turns to its normal position and the conduit 23 is again sealed by the liquid in the trough 24.

The sealing liquid around the outlet 10 may be regulated in quantity so that the sides 16 of the cup 15 may emerge from the sealing liquid in receptacle 14, when said cup rotates in either direction. By adjusting the level of said sealing liquid, the partial emergence of such sides may be caused to occur simultaneously with, before or after the opening of the seal of the conduit 23. If desired, venting may be caused to occur exclusively through the conduit 23.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with the details of a specific embodiment thereof, it must be understood that such details are not intended to be limitative upon the scope of the invention, except in so far as they are included in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A liquid sealed relief valve comprising a sealed member adapted to be oscillated by excess pressure thereon, a tubular member carried by the first saidmember, and means for containing sealing liquid for said tubular. member, said tubular member, being adapted to withdraw from the liquid in said containing member when the first said member oscillates.

2. A liquid sealed relief valve comprising i a sealedmember adapted to be oscillatedby excess pressure in either direction, a tubular member carried by said oscillating member, and a liquid container adapted to contain liquid co-operating with the lower end of said tubular member in such manner that said tubular member withdraws from said liquid when it is oscillated by said oscillating member.

3. A liquid sealed relief valve comprising an inverted cup pivoted on an axis laterally displaced with respect'to its center of pressure, a tubular member extending downwardly from the upper surface of said cup, and a trough for holding sealing liquid in co-operative relationship with thelower end of said tubular member, whereby said;

tubular member is adapted to rotate out. of contact with said-liquid for the purpose of permitting gases to pass from one side ofthe inverted cup to the other.

4. A liquid sealed relief valve comprising a vapor outlet, walls for maintaining a body of liquid therearound, an inverted cup plvotally mounted over said outlet on an axis displaced laterally with respect to its center of pressure, said cup being 'provided with sides adapted to depend into said sealing liquid, an open tubular member extending from the top of said inverted cup, and a trough located below said tubular member and containing sealing liquid adapted to cooperate with the lower end of said tubular member.

5. A liquid sealed relief. valve comprising a vapor outlet, walls for maintaining a body of liquid therearound, an inverted cup pivotally mounted over said outlet on an axis displaced laterally with respect to its center of pressure, said cup being provided with s1des adapted to depend into said sealin l1qu1d, an open tubular member extending rom the to of said inverted cup, a trough located be ow said tubular member and containing sealing liquid adapted to co-operate with the lower end of said tubular member, and means for preventing rotation of said cup until a predetermined excess of pressure exists on one side or the other of said cup,

6: A liquid sealed relief valve comprlsmg a sealed member adapted'to be oscillated. by excess pressure in either direction, a single vapor pipe belowsaid member, a tubular member carried by the first said member, and means for containing sealing liquid for said tubular member, sald tubular member llO 

